Race Notes - Hamilton takes flag-to-flag victory in Hungary

Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest today in the McLaren-Mercedes. Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari finished second and Nick Heidfeld in the BMW was third.

Fernando Alonso in the McLaren-Mercedes was fourth, followed by Robert Kubica in the second BMW was fifth, Ralf Schumacher in the Toyota in sixth, Nico Rosberg in the Williams-Toyota in seventh and Heikki Kovalainen taking the final points position in 8th.

Before the start Fernando Alonso was demoted from pole to 6th place and Giancarlo Fisichella from 8th to 13th place on the grid.

At the start Hamilton takes the lead while Raikkonen takes second place away from Heidfeld. The order was Hamilton, Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Rosberg, Schumacher, Kubica, Webber and Alonso falling back to 8th.

On lap 3 Alonso repasses Webber for seventh place, and passes Kubica for 6th place on the next lap, while Hamilton pulls out a 3 second lead over Raikkonen.

On lap 6 Sakon Yamamoto spins off and hits the tyre barrier to end his race.

At lap 15, the order was stable with Hamilton 4.5 seconds ahead of Raikkonen - the two trading fastest laps, followed ten seconds further back by Heidfeld, Rosberg, Schumacher, Alonso, Kubica, Webber, Kovalainen and Coulthard in tenth, Felipe Massa in 16th place.

On lap 17, Heidfeld, Rosberg, Alonso and Barrichello make their first pitstops, followed by Schumacher the next lap, and leader Hamilton, Raikkonen, Kubica and Fisichella on lap 19, Webber and Trulli on the following lap.

At lap 25 the order was Hamilton with Raikkonen chipping away at his lead to on 1.5 seconds, followed 14 seconds further back by Heidfeld, Kovalainen, Rosberg, Coulthard, Kubica, Schumacher, Alonso and Webber in tenth place.

On lap 26 Coulthard makes his first stop, followed by Kovalainen from fourth place on the next lap.

On lap 32 Rosberg was the first driver to make his second stop, followed by Massa on lap 36.

On lap 37 the defending Hungarian race winner Jenson Button pulls to the side of the track and retires.

At lap 40, Hamilton led Raikkonen by 1.1 seconds, followed 11 seconds further back by Heidfeld, Kubica, Schumacher, Alonso, Webber, Rosberg, Kovalainen and Coulthard in tenth.

On lap 40 Webber makes his second stop, followed by Heidfeld from third and Fisichella on the next lap, Kubica on lap 42.

On lap 42 Anthony Davidson spins and comes to a halt beached on the kerb at the inside of the track after the first corner.

On lap 43 Coulthard pits, followed by Raikkonen on lap 46, Schumacher on lap 48, Kovalainen on lap 49, leader Hamilton and Alonso on lap 50 passing Schumacher in the pits, Massa pitting on lap 51

On lap 54 Heidfeld makes his final stop, followed by Rosberg on lap 55, and Kubica the following lap.

On lap 57 Raikkonen closes to 0.5 seconds of Hamilton.

On lap 58 Webber makes his final stop from seventh.

At lap 60, the order was Hamilton leading Raikkonen by under a second, followed by Heidfeld, Alonso, Kubica, Schumacher, Rosberg, Kovalainen, Weber and Trulli in tenth place.